Pattern of paediatric dermatoses at dermatology clinics in Ile-Ife and Ilesha, Nigeria

Background: In developing countries, skin diseases are one of the most common causes of morbidity. Aim: A prospective descriptive study was conducted to determine the pattern of skin diseases in childhood and adolescents presenting to the outpatient dermatology clinics of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex at Ile-Ife and Ilesha, Osun State. Methods: Patients aged 2 weeks to 19 years attending the clinics between October 2009 and September 2012 were included. Results: A total of 491 dermatoses were recorded in 441 patients. There were 244 (49.6%) males. Dermatophyte infections (17.1%), papular urticaria (6.7%), atopic dermatitis (6.3%), vitiligo (5.3%), acne (4.7%) and viral warts (3.7%) were the most frequent dermatoses. Skin infections and infestations, mostly dermatophyte infections and viral warts, accounted for 57.6% of the skin conditions. Of the non-infectious diseases, papular urticaria and atopic dermatitis were the most common. Dermatophyte infections were the most prevalent in children (25.8%), and acne vulgaris in adolescents (11.8%). Conclusion: Skin infections and infestations, mostly dermatophyte infections, were the most prevalent in children, and acne vulgaris in adolescents.